By Bonnie James
QATAR is all set to play a major role in augmenting primary healthcare in the Eastern Mediterranean region by hosting an international conference which begins today at the Ritz under the patronage of HH Sheikha Mozah Nasser al-Misnad.
More than 1,000 participants from across the world are expected for the four-day event being hosted by the National Health Authority in association with the World Health Organisation.
Promulgation of the ‘Doha Charter and Declaration on Primary Healthcare’ with endorsement from all the 22 countries of the Eastern Mediterranean region is a salient feature of the conference.
Afghanistan, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, UAE, and Yemen are the member countries of the region.
The ‘Qatar Primary Healthcare 2008’ conference, with the theme ‘The Foundation of Health and Wellbeing,’ is to witness about 45 presentations by experts from the region and from the US, Canada and Europe.
The Qatar conference is one of six international events organised in as many countries to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Charter of Alma Ata when primary healthcare was formally endorsed by over 135 member states of the WHO as a strategy for achieving ‘Health for All.’
“The most important aspect of primary healthcare is that it is foundation of a successful healthcare system,” scientific committee chair Dr Juliet Ibrahim said.
Primary healthcare provides a patient’s first point of entry into the healthcare system and acts as the continuing focal point for all needed services, she explained.
The sub-themes include innovations, community-based care, health workforce development, health and wellness promotion, integration of non-communicable diseases including mental health in primary healthcare, social determinants of health and health equity, and clinical updates.
Key results from Qatar’s world health survey are to be presented at the conference, which will also see presentations based on successful experiences of various countries in primary healthcare.
The event will provide an opportunity for policy makers, administrators, public health scientists, civil society representatives and development partners to establish formal and informal networks to promote primary healthcare.
Sharing global and regional experiences on different aspects of primary healthcare is another objective.
The experts coming for the conference include Dr Halfdan Mahler who served three terms as WHO’s director general, Prof Barbara Starfield (director, Primary Care Policy Centre, John Hopkins University) and Prof Chris Van Weel (president, International Association of Family Physicians).
WHO’s assistant director general Dr Ala’adin Alwan, WHO-Eastern Mediterranean Office regional director Dr Hussain Gezairy and GCC Health Ministers’ Council director general Dr Tawfik Khojah are also to attend the event, which has Qatar Petroleum as the platinum sponsor.
Minister of Public Health HE Dr Sheikha Ghalia bint Mohamed bin Hamad al-Thani, who is also the organising committee chair, will open the conference at 6pm.
Prof Van Weel, the keynote speaker, is to give a presentation on ‘Making healthcare relevant for populations and people – the role of family physicians and primary healthcare.’ Addresses by Dr Mahler and Dr al-Gezairy are also part of the opening session.
Hamad Medical Corporation will have a major representation in the conference, with hundreds of healthcare personnel from various levels participating. |
